Lighthouse Point is the last city park where you can have a beer in public — for now. Arlene DePino wants to change that.
Alderwoman DePino, whose ward contains Lighthouse Point, wants to ban alcohol at the park. She made the pitch at the monthly meeting of the Board of Parks Commissioners.
Drinking has gotten out of hand in Lighthouse Point Park, she said, and it should be prohibited, just as it is in all other city parks.
Public drinking is permitted at Lighthouse Point by city ordinance, which can be changed only by the Board of Aldermen. A recommendation from the parks commissioners would set the stage for such a change.
The commissioners did not vote on the item at Wednesday’s meeting, tabling it pending further discussion.
DePino (at right in photo), a parks commissioner, said that she was motivated by reports from Lt. Jeff Hoffman, the East Shore’s district manager, that drunken picnickers are causing problems at the park.
DePino said that Hoffman was “appalled at the amount of drinking and how things have gotten out of control.”
“People don’t just have a cold beer anymore,” she said. Park-goers are bringing in 12-packs and kegs, she said. “There’s a lot of young people and they’re getting drunk, drunk, drunk.”
“People are staggering out drunk,” DePino said. “They’re changing out of their bathing suits in the middle of Lighthouse Road.”
Drinking problems in Lighthouse Point are compounded by overcrowding, said Parks Director Bob Levine. The park closes to cars as soon as the lot fills up, he said. After that, people park their cars outside the park and walk in, hauling picnic supplies with them. On days like this the park can allegedly become a dangerous mix of drunk young people and families with small children.
“They’re getting drunk,” DePino reiterated. “We have no more park security. We’re allowing a very dangerous situation.”
July 4th was a particularly rowdy day in the park, Levine (pictured) said. The park was closed to cars by 10:15 a.m., after which point people walked in, in some cases wheeling gas grills that they left behind after they were done partying.
The commissioners had mixed responses to the proposed prohibition, raising concerns about enforcement and possible impact on more responsible drinkers.
“It’s difficult to enforce,” said Board President David Belowsky. “You have to look in every cooler.”Levine compared the situation to problems with drinking at soccer games on the Boulevard. “You need to enforce it, and who is that on?” he said.
“People will still continue to drink regardless,” said Alderwoman Migdalia Castro.
Commissioner Georgia Miller said that an enforcement strategy could be to “just look for large groups with rowdy people.” Even if people continue to drink, a crackdown on egregious drunkenness could make alcohol in the park less of a problem.
“The people who are negatively impacted are the responsible folks,” Levine said. Park-goers who want to relax with just a beer or two will be unable to do so.
Commissioners also voiced concerns about decreased park usage if drinking is prohibited. Levine said that Lighthouse Point is one of the city’s most popular parks, bringing in $90,000 in revenue last year.
Since the proposal would require action by the Board of Aldermen, which he said would be unlikely to happen before the end of the summer anyway, Levine proposed that the item be tabled until the commissioner’s next meeting, in September.
A visit to Lighthouse Point Park after Wednesday night’s meeting found no sign of rowdy drinking. At 7:30 p.m., the park was populated by a few families enjoying barbecues. Fair Havener Freddy Gonzalez held his neice Jarley, while his family enjoyed a picnic nearby. Gonzalez said that drinking should not be allowed.
“From my view, no,” he said. “There are a lot of kids in here.”
Up a nearby hill, Dennika Coleman was placing burgers on a grill. Informed about the commissioners concerns about drunken rowdiness, she said. “If that’s the case, then they should ban it.”
Near the ranger station, Oscar Quinonez from West Haven sat at a picnic table with his family. A Coors Light cooler sat on the next picnic table. Quinonez said that he’d had a couple of beers in the park. “I can handle it,” he said.
Quinonez was in favor of an alcohol ban. “We bring kids over here,” he said.
Whether or not the ban passes, soda will still be allowed.